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NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
 
 

NWR Receiver Consumer Information


NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards transmitters broadcast on one of seven VHF frequencies from 162.400 MHz to 162.550 MHz. The broadcasts cannot be heard on a simple AM/FM radio receiver. There are many receiver options, however, ranging from handheld portable units which just pick up Weather Radio broadcasts, to desktop and console models which receive Weather Radio as well as other broadcasts.

Where to Buy One

While National Weather Service (NWS) staff prepare and produce Weather Radio broadcasts, NWS neither manufactures nor sells receivers. You can buy receivers at many retail outlets, including electronics, department, sporting goods, and boat and marine accessory stores and their catalogs. They can also be purchased via the Internet from online retailers or directly from manufacturers.

Receiver Types and Models

NWS does not endorse a specific make or model of receiver. The lists below, which contain just some of the many NOAA Weather Radio/EAS receiver manufacturers and resellers, is provided as a convenience not an endorsement.

Depending on the information you want to access, and how and where you plan to access our broadcasts, you have many options. There are standalone Weather Radio receivers as well as multi-band/function receivers with the weather band included. If you are want to be alerted to Warnings and Watches day or night, a standalone receiver might work best for you. If you just want to be able to tune to in the weather broadcast and do not care about receiving alerts, a general multi-band/function receiver could be better.

Standalone Receivers: Standalone receivers might also come with AM/FM bands, but their primary use will be to receive Weather Radio broadcasts. You can choose between handheld and desktop models, depending on whether you plan to take your radio with you when you go out. There are many choices from a number of manufacturers with prices ranging from around $20 to over $100, depending on the number of features included.

Multi-Band/Function Receivers:
These receivers bundle a number of features. Weather Radio is just one of many frequency bands included. You can find the Weather Radio band included in:

  • AM/FM radios
  • Shortwave receivers
  • CB radios
  • VHF Marine radios
  • Scanners
  • GMRS/FRS 2-way radios
  • Car radios
  • TV/Radio combinations*

* Note that with the pending conversion of television signals to digital on February 17, 2009, the analog TV band of multi-function receivers will no longer work after that date. Look here for more information.

Public Alert ™ Devicespublic alert logo

We cannot recommend one brand of receiver over another, but we do suggest that people look at receivers which carry the Public Alert logo. The Public Alert Standard (CEA-2009-A) was developed by the Consumer Electronics Association in conjunction with the National Weather Service. Devices which carrying the Public Alert logo meet certain technical standards and come with many (if not all) of the features mentioned below.

Residential Grade Radios and Features

Prices can vary from $20 to $200, depending on the model. Many receivers have an alarm feature, but some may not. Among the more useful features in a receiver are:

Tone alarm: The National Weather Service will send a 1050 Hz tone alarm before most warning and many watch messages are broadcast. The tone will activate all the receivers which are equipped to receive it, even if the audio is turned off. This is especially useful for warnings which occur during the night when most people are asleep. (Public Alert - required)

SAME technology: SAME, or Specific Alert Message Encoding allows you to specify the particular area for which you wish to receive alerts. Most warnings and watches broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio are county-based or independent city-based (parish-based in Louisiana), although in a few areas of the country the alerts are issued for portions of counties. Since most NWR transmitters are broadcasting for a number of counties, SAME receivers will respond only to alerts issued for the area (or areas) you have selected. This minimizes the number of “false alarms” for events which might be a few counties away from where you live. (Public Alert - required)

Selectable alerting of events: While SAME allows you to specify a particular area of interest, some receivers allow you to turn off alarms for certain events which might not be important to you. For example, if you live in a coastal county, but not right at the beach, you might not care about Coastal Flood Warnings. This feature may also be called "Event Blocking" or "Defeat Siren". (Public Alert - optional)

Battery backup: Since power outages often occur during storms, having a receiver with battery backup can be crucial. However, unless you have a portable unit which you will use away from other power sources, an AC power connection is recommended to preserve battery life. (Public Alert - required for radios, optional for other devices)

External antenna jack: While most receivers come with a whip antenna which can usually be extended out from the unit, depending on your location you may need an external antenna to get a good reception. Some receivers come with an external antenna jack (normally in the back of the unit) which will allow you to connect to a larger antenna (which can be indoors or outdoors). You can often purchase these as accessories at the same place where you bought your receiver, or from most stores with an electronics department. NWR broadcasts are in the Public Service VHF frequencies, just above FM radio and between the current TV channels 6 and 7 - so an antenna designed for analog VHF televisions or FM radios should work. Or, you can make your own antenna. Go to this web site for more information. (Public Alert - optional)

External device jack (special needs): Some radios have a jack to plug-in external notification devices, such as strobe lights or bed shakers, which can be useful for those with special needs. (Public Alert - required for institutional receivers, optional for consumer receivers).

Weather Radio Receivers for Consumers
Manufacturers
Note that manufacturers of Public Alert certified receivers may also produce other models which are not certified. Visit their web sites to view specifications and owner's manuals to compare features.
click name for Internet link
other contact information

public alert logo
models

C. Crane Company
1001 Main Street
Fortuna, CA 95540
phone: 800-522-8863
phone: 707-725-9000
fax: 707-725-9060
e-mail: ccraneco@aol.com
 
Etón USA
Etón Corporation
1015 Corporation Way
Palo Alto, CA 94303
phone: 650-335-3008
fax: 650-903-3867
e-mail: snguyen@etoncorp.com
 
First Alert
Sima Products Corporation
Customer Service
140 Pennsylvania Ave., Bldg #5
Oakmont, PA 15139
phone: 800-345-7462
phone: 412-828-3700
fax: 412-828-9338
e-mail: custserv@simacorp.com
WX-150
WX-167
WX-268
Freeplay Energy
Dixie Sales Company
PO Box 600
Brown's Summit, NC 27214
phone: 866-697-7529
fax: 336-621-9100
e-mail: pthornton@dixiesales.com
 
Hideki Electronics, Inc.
North America Headquarters
7865 SW Mohawk
Tualatin OR, 97062
email: customerservice@hidekielectronics.us PCR507W
RN507W
TN924W
HomeSafe, Inc
519 Dupree Road
Willow Springs, NC 27592

phone: 800-607-6737
phone: 919-639-3001
fax: 919-639-0547
e-mail: homesaferadios@aol.com
e-mail: info@homesafeinc.com
2005 HS
Midland Radio
5900 Parretta Dr
Kansas City, MO 64120
phone: 816-241-8500
e-mail: mail@midlandradio.com
WR-100
WR-300
MTS Communication Products  (alternate site)
950 Hwy 42 West
Clayton, NC 27520

phone: 919-553-2995
fax: 919-553-0437

 
Oregon Scientific
North American Headquarters
19861 SW 95th Place
Tualatin, OR 97062

phone: 503-639-8883
fax: 503-684-8883
e-mail: info@oscientific.com
WR602
WRB603
WRB603JD
Radio Shack
200 Taylor Street, Suite 600
Ft. Worth, TX 76102

Customer Relations
phone: 817-415-3200
fax: 817-415-3240

12-259
12-262

Reecom Electronics Inc.
3603 Woodlark Drive
Roswell, GA 30075

phone: 770-641-9228
fax: 770-641-1040
e-mail: sales@reecominc.com
R-1630
R-1650
Resellers
click name for Internet link
other contact information
Ambient Weather
6503 W. Frye Road, Suite 11
Chandler, AZ 85226
phone: 480-283-1644
fax: 480-283-1645
e-mail: support@AmbientWeather.com
ExploraTrack (alternate site)
PO Box 1190
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
phone: 800-414-8655
info@exploratrack.com
Radio Shack
200 Taylor Street, Suite 600
Ft. Worth, TX 76102

Customer Relations
phone: 817-415-3200
fax: 817-415-3240

Ready Smart
North American Headquarters
148 Farley Street
Mountain View, CA 94043
phone: 650-248-0655
e-mail: info@ReadySmart.com

Scientific Sales Inc.
PO Box 6725
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

phone: 800-788-5666
phone: 609-844-0055
fax: 609-844-0466
email: sales@scientificsales.com

Weather Your Way
2966 Gateway Avenue
Hartford, WI 53027
phone: 262-670-9697
fax: 719-218-2250
e-mail: postmaster@weatheryourway.com
Manufacturers and resellers who wish to add their company's information to this page may e-mail the webmaster of this web page, Melody Magnus.

 

Industrial/Commercial Weather Radio Receivers
Designed for reception of Emergency Alert System EAS broadcasts as well as NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts. Prices may vary from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
click name for Internet link
other contact information
Communistarr, Inc.
215 S. Pavilion Avenue
Riverside, NJ 08075-3613
phone: 800-952-7129
fax: 856-764-6519
Computer Automation Technology Inc.
4631 N.W. 31st Avenue, Suite 142
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
phone: 954-978-6171
fax: 561-488-2894
e-mail: webmaster@catauto.com
Dayton Industrial Corporation
2237 Industrial Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34234
phone: 941-351-4454
fax: 941-351-6081
e-mail: SCARadio@aol.com
Gorman Redlich Manufacturing Co.
257 West Union Street
Athens, OH 45701
phone: 740-593-3150
fax: 740-592-3898
e-mail: jimg@gorman-redlich.com
Hamtronics, Inc.
65 Moul Road
Hilton, NY 14468-9535
phone: 716-392-9430
fax: 716-392-9420
e-mail: jv@hamtronics.com
MTS Communications Products
150 Clayton Commerce Center
Clayton, NC 27520
phone: 919-553-2995
fax: 919-553-0437
TFT, Inc.
2243 Ringwood Avenue
San Jose, CA 95131-1737
phone: 408-943-9323
fax: 408-432-9218
e-mail: DParker@TFTInc.com
e-mail: info@TFTInc.com
Thunder Eagle, Inc.
P.O. Box 625
Vienna, VA 22183
phone: 888-877-8022
fax: 703-281-7459
e-mail: dgropper@thuneagle.com
Veetronix, Inc
PO Box 480
Lexington, NE 68850
e-mail: sales@veetronix.com


Traveling to Canada?

Your Weather Radio receiver will also work in Canada. The Meteorological Service of Canada, the government agency responsible for producing official forecasts there, operates a network of "Weatheradio" transmitters which generally operate on the same frequencies as the U.S. NOAA Weather Radio network. You can find out more about the Canadian network here.

Receiver Recalls

For information on Weather Radio receiver recalls, go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission web site and choose "Radios Weather" in the product Type list




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Last Updated: August 29, 2008